Search the hub
Showing results for tags 'Australia'.
Found 78 results
-
EventWe live in a world marked by massive global changes, moving us rapidly into rather unprecedented and unknown directions. It has never been so vital for us to understand the interactions among humans and other system elements. This necessitates the creation and adoption of theories, principles, data, and methods of design, as well as new capabilities, technologies, skills, procedures, policies, strategies to find new ways of engaging with a rapidly changing world and optimise wellbeing and performance. Find out more at the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA) virtual conference. Register
-
Content ArticleBullying, discrimination and harassment between healthcare workers can have an impact on how well individuals do their job, and may therefore lead to an increase in medical errors, adverse events and medical complications. This systematic review in BMJ Quality & Safety aimed to summarise current evidence about the impact on clinical performance and patient outcomes of unacceptable behaviour between healthcare workers.
-
Content ArticleMany people with Long Covid experience varying levels of long-term cognitive impairment, but the causes of this are not well understood. This preprint longitudinal observational study aimed to identify links between cognitive impairment and different biomarkers in people with Long Covid. The authors reported the findings of 128 prospectively studied patients who had tested positive for Covid. They looked at: lung function, physical and mental health at two months post diagnosis. blood cytokines, neuro-biomarkers and kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites at 2-, 4-, 8- and 12-months post diagnosis. The study identified that KP metabolites were significantly associated with cognitive decline and could therefore offer a potential therapeutic target for treating cognitive impairment related to Long Covid.
-
Content ArticleThis review, published in official journal of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance, Drug Safety, is aimed at determining the overall incidence, severity and preventability of medication-related hospital admissions in Australia. In its conclusions, the authors estimate that 250,000 hospital admissions in Australia are medication-related, with an annual cost of AUD$1.4 billion to the healthcare system, and that two-thirds of medication-related hospital admissions are potentially preventable.
-
Content ArticleThe aim of this study was to determine the distribution of formal patient complaints across Australia's medical workforce and to identify characteristics of doctors at high risk of incurring recurrent complaints. It found that a small group of doctors accounts for half of all patient complaints lodged with Australian Commissions. It is feasible to predict which doctors are at high risk of incurring more complaints in the near future. Widespread use of this approach to identify high-risk doctors and target quality improvement efforts coupled with effective interventions, could help reduce adverse events and patient dissatisfaction in health systems.
-
Content ArticleThe distribution of malpractice claims among physicians is not well understood. If claim-prone physicians account for a substantial share of all claims, the ability to reliably identify them at an early stage could guide efforts to improve care. Using data from the National Practitioner Data Bank, Studdert et al. analysed 66,426 claims paid against 54,099 physicians from 2005 through 2014. The authors calculated concentrations of claims among physicians. They found over a 10-year period, a small number of physicians with distinctive characteristics accounted for a disproportionately large number of paid malpractice claims.
-
Content ArticleDo patients’ and families’ experiences with communication-and-resolution programmes suggest aspects of institutional responses to injury that could better promote reconciliation after medical injuries? This interview study of 40 patients, family members, and hospital staff in Australia found that patients have a strong need to be heard after medical injury that is often unmet. Although 18 of 30 patient and family participants (60%) reported positive experiences with communication-and-resolution programmes overall and continued to receive care at the hospital, they reported that hospitals rarely communicated information about efforts to prevent recurrences. Opportunities are available to provide institutional responses to medical injuries that are more patient centred.
-
Content ArticleThe aim of this study from Bismark et al. was to identify characteristics of doctors in Victoria, Australia, who are repeated subjects of complaints by patients.
-
Content ArticleThis video series by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare aims to promote sepsis awareness among healthcare professionals and the wider community. The three videos were created as part of the Australian National Sepsis Awareness Campaign. The videos provide key information about: sepsis signs and symptoms. potential health problems after sepsis. simple ways to reduce the risk of sepsis. timely recognition and management of sepsis across healthcare settings.
-
Content ArticleThis toolkit from the New South Wales Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) provides information, resources and quality improvement (QI) tools for managers and clinicians to improve sepsis care. The resources can be adapted to suit local needs and cover: Getting started Making improvements Data for improvement Communicating changes Providing education Sustain and spread
-
Content ArticleAdverse incident research within residential aged care facilities (RACFs) is increasing and there is growing awareness of safety and quality issues. However, large-scale evidence identifying specific areas of need and at-risk residents is lacking. This study from St Clair et al. used routinely collected incident management system data to quantify the types and rates of adverse incidents experienced by residents of RACFs.
-
Content ArticleClinicians play an essential role in implementing infection prevention policy, but little is known about how infection control policy is implemented at an organisational level or what factors influence this process. This study explores the policy implementation process used in the introduction of a national large-scale, government-directed infection prevention policy in Australia.
-
Content ArticleThis article published by The Conversation looks at the pressures faced by ambulance services and emergency departments across Australia as a result of Covid-19. There has been an increase in 'ramping', where ambulances queue up outside hospitals. Ramping is a sign that the whole health system is under immense pressure. The article looks at the large amounts of funding Australian local governments are putting into ambulance services and emergency departments (EDs), but highlight that this will not solve the issues face by the health system if issues discharging patients into community and social care remain. It highlights a model developed in Leeds, UK, that has been adopted by the health service in Victoria, Australia, focused on solving more systemic issues. The Leeds model aims to improve patient flow in and out of the hospital and ensure that patients are quickly transferred from ambulances into EDs. Discharge coordinators organise the care patients need in the community after an ED or hospital stay. The authors also look at the role of community paramedics in keeping patients out of hospital and their potential to reduce financial and capacity pressure on health systems worldwide.
-
Content ArticleThe aim of this study in Australian Critical Care was to develop an evidence-based paediatric early warning system for infants and children, that takes into consideration a variety of paediatric healthcare contexts and addresses barriers to escalation of care. The development process resulted in an agreed uniform ESCALATION system incorporating a whole-system approach to promote critical thinking, situational awareness for the early recognition of paediatric clinical deterioration as well as timely and effective escalation of care. Incorporating family involvement was an important and new component of the system.
-
Content ArticleThis study in Health Expectations aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing a parent escalation of care process: Calling for Help (C4H). Guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework, the authors carried out audits, semi-structured interviews and focus groups in an Australian paediatric hospital where a parent escalation of care process was introduced in the previous six months. The authors found that although there was a low level of awareness about C4H in practice, there was in-principle support for the concept. Initial strategies had primarily targeted policy change without taking into account the need for practice and organisational behaviour changes.
-
Content ArticleThis Australian study in Health Expectations aimed to evaluate the implementation of 'Calling for Help'(C4H), an intervention for parents to escalate care if they are concerned about their child's clinical condition. The study used a convenience sample of 75 parents from inpatient areas during the audit, and the authors held interviews with ten parents who had expressed concern about their child's clinical condition and five focus groups with 35 ward nurses. The authors found that there was an improvement in the level of parent awareness of C4H, which was viewed positively by both parents and nurses. To achieve a high level of parent awareness in a sustainable way, a multifaceted approach is required and further strategies will be required for parents to feel confident enough to use C4H and to address communication barriers.
-
Content ArticleThe REACH Toolkit provides information, resources and quality improvement (QI) tools for managers and clinicians to improve patient, carer and family recognition and escalation of clinical deterioration in NSW health services. The resources can be adapted to suit local needs including initial program implementation, to review and improve current practices or to support current practice.
-
Content ArticleREACH is a system that helps patients, carers and family members to escalate their concerns with staff about worrying changes in a patient's condition. It stands for Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way. REACH was developed by the New South Wales Government Clinical Excellence Commission in collaboration with local health districts and consumers. It builds on the surf life‐saving analogy for recognition and appropriate care of deteriorating patients by encouraging patients, carers and their families to 'put their hands in the air' to signal they need help.
-
Content ArticleRyan Saunders is a little boy who died in 2007 from an undiagnosed streptococcal infection, which led to Toxic Shock Syndrome. According to the Queensland Clinical Excellence Division, when Ryan’s parents were worried he was getting worse, they did not feel their concerns were acted on in time. This blog outlines Ryan's Rule, a process introduced by the Queensland Department of Health to try and prevent similar events happening in future. Ryan's Rule allows patients and their families and carers to escalate serious concerns about their own or a family member's condition.
-
Content ArticleThe Australian Institute of Health Innovation conducts world-class research to catalyse health service and systems improvements in Australia and internationally. Its research generates highly practical evidence-based recommendations and information that health services can implement or use now. The Health Innovation Series supports clinicians, hospitals, policy makers and developers to apply this evidence to enhance the health system and services. The Health Innovation Series communicates research evidence in an easy-to-read, short format with clear recommendations, covering a wide range of topics.
-
Content ArticleThe National Medication Safety Symposium was held in Sydney, Australia, in support of World Patient Safety Day. The presentations from the 2-day conference can be viewed on YouTube from link below.
-
Content ArticleWeb-based personal health records (PHRs) have the potential to improve the quality, accuracy and timeliness of health care. However, the international uptake of web-based PHRs has been slow. Populations experiencing disadvantages are less likely to use web-based PHRs, potentially widening health inequities within and among countries. This study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research aimed to identify the predictors of awareness, engagement and use of the Australian national web-based PHR, My Health Record (MyHR). The study found a strong and consistent association between digital health literacy and the use of a web-based PHR. The authors suggest that improving digital technology and skill experiences may improve digital health literacy and willingness to engage in web-based PHR. They also suggest that uptake could be improved through more responsive digital services, strengthened healthcare and better social support.
-
Content ArticleThese reports by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia look at different aspects of medication safety. Medicine safety: Take care This report details the extent of harms in Australia as a result of medicine use. It highlights that 250,000 Australians are hospitalised each year, with another 400,000 presenting to emergency departments, as a result of medication errors, inappropriate use, misadventure and interactions. At least half of these incidents could have been prevented. Medicine safety: Aged care This report provides data about the real and current medication safety problems affecting older care residents across Australia. Medicine safety: Rural and remote care This report highlights the extreme challenges patients in rural and remote Australia have in accessing health care and the impact that this has on the safe and appropriate use of medicines. Medicine safety: Disability care This report focuses on the challenges that people with disability face in using medicines safely and effectively. The report found that people with disability face challenges at all stages of medicine use–prescribing, dispensing, administration and adherence and monitoring. Medicine safety forum: Informing Australia’s 10th National Health priority area This report presents a summary of views and experiences shared at a stakeholder workshop in December 2019.
-
Content ArticleThis study in JAMA Network Open aimed to investigate whether attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is over diagnosed in children and adolescents. The authors reviewed 334 published studies and found convincing evidence that ADHD is over diagnosed. They highlight that the harms associated with ADHD diagnosis may outweigh the benefits, particularly in children and young people with milder symptoms.
-
Content ArticleThe mortality rates for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are double those of the general population and researchers believe unmet mental health needs may be a factor. The researchers’ results were derived from an Australian-first University of New South Wales (UNSW) study, which analysed linked data sets on death rates, risk factors and cause of death for 36,000 people on the autism spectrum. While cancer and circulatory diseases are the leading cause of deaths in the general population, injury and poisoning – including accidents, suicide and deaths related to self-harm – were the most common causes for people with ASD. GP and autism advocate Dr James Best told newsGP he was not surprised by the results, but that they did confirm people with ASD have a different set of health risk factors.
